Transom draft-gear.



sa) ATN?! Erica,

CHARLES T. VESTLAKE, F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO TRANSOM DRAFT GEAR. COMPANY, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRANSOM DRAFT-GEAR.

Be it known tli-aLL'Ci-iaiuls T, ll'izs'i mini, a citizenof the United States, residing atSt-i Louis, B'Iissourirhave invented a ccrtai-nnew and useful Improvement in Trans? soin Draft-Gear, of which the following is a 'Afullf clear, and exact description, such as which--v being in horizontal section.

it appertains to m'akeand use the samegr will enable others skilled in theart to which Fig. 4 is a cross .sectiontakcn approximately n the` line 4-1 et Fig.; l Fig.' is a per- K Spective view ofthe yok u iich is connected tothe rear end 'of the draw bar and which carries the springs'and spring casing ofthe draft gear. Fig.` (3 is a perspective view ol' Spring casing formingapart of my iniroved draft fear the matin(t )arts of.

I i is l halves of said casing being .slightly separated. Fig; 7is a horizontal section through a transom or .body bolster .and sl'ow'ing a modified form of my improved' transom draft gear. -t

y., My./invention relates gem-.rally to railwa)l car construction'and more particularly to a transom draft gear oftandein type. the prin cipal object of my invention being to gcn- -erally improve*z upon-.thc construction of the presenttypes of transom draft gears. and to 'provide a comparatively simple construction which can be easily anrl quickly assem- "bledor taken a|"iai-t,-aml whiclnvin service,

will insure aunifo'rnidisti'ibutioi'i of thc v biilling and pullingstrains through the iso .transom or bolster and the undcrlranic with `which the saineis associated.

' Further objects yof my invention are1 to construct a transom draft gear which is compact, particularly in transverse diiucn- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Application led March 1, 1915. Serial Nu. 11,360. 1

ple and compact arrangen'inent. of tandem springs, further to provide. a spring casing which combines with the yoke in forming a combined housing and support for the springs, and further to constructcither theA spring casing or the yoke in sections so that said parts may be readily assembled oitaken top and bottom plates arevertically disposedv transversely extending webs lil, and formed in tlic.l`ron't portions thereof are inwardl) extending notches 14. `[formed integral with the top plate l() near thcl longitudinal afvis ol' the transom and-l'ict-ween `thc webs-12', is a depending llange l5 and formed integral withtlic bottoni plate isa corresponding upwardly projecting flange, l?,

'l`lie draw bar extension li' forming a part of iny improved d-i'al't gear is prcfcrably in the form of an elongated hollow iriember, preferably rast `and substantially square in cross section. Formed in the' `forward end of this extension is a pocket lh open in front and at tlicrtop. and fori'ied integral with thc. front edge of the bottoni wall of said pocket is a transversely disposed flange lll. l"oi-incil in thil side walls oli this pocket arc openings 2t) which serve as key seats.

'l`lic rear cnd of thc coupler shank l is ol' such si'/.c and torio as to lit snugly within the pocket 18 and thc underside of saidI shank is provided with a shoulder which bears directly against the langc lf).

A bolt Z3-1 passes vertically through the icar end of the coupler shank and the hottoni wall of the pocket and extending transversely through the. rear portion of the. coupler shank is a key 2l, the ends of which are seated in the openings itl and the outer faces of said ends lying flush with the outer faces of the side walls of thc pocket. To secure webs 13. Positionedon the outer ends of single ieee and com )rises arall'el legs 30 e P e 7 the key against displacement, notches 24a are formed in both edges of the key and when said key is properly positioned for use, the

bolt-23 occupies the rear oneof said notches. i

( )rdinarily,the key utilizedl for connecting the coupler shank to the drawbar extensionis formed with a projection or head en one cndlhe same occupying considerable space and t 1e outer end projects some little dis` tance beyond theopposite wall and-is provided with a` cotter or li-ke device toprevent displacement. These projecting ends of the key occupyA considerable space and prevent the requisite sldewise movement of the forward portion of the drawbar exten sion within thev available space'between the center sills of the car. 'Ith my improved construction the key does not project beyond the side walls of the draw bar extension, and thus the forward'portion of the extension has a much lgreater latitude of transverse movement. f

Formed in the rear portions of the side walls of the extension-17 are longitudinally vdisposed slots 25 and passing, therethrough is-a key 2G, the louter end portions'of which occupy and extend beyond the notches 1 4 of this key 26 are washersl'i, the same being held in place byv cottcrs 28.

The yoke .29 forming apart of my ^improved draft 'gear isvpreferably formed in a a rear plate or springseat 31,' and' arr-inter.-

mediate plate 32.

'lhefmward ends of (helegs 30 are pro-v vided with suitable openings-33 which receive the key 2G. W hen the yoke is properly connected :to the extension 17, thev legs 30 of the yoke occupy positions immediately adjacent the inner faces of the webs 125.

The spring casinpr forming a part of my improved draft gear is preferably formed in mating parts constructed so as to interlock with each other and when saidcasing is properly associated with the yoke and draw bar extension. it is held against displacement and serves as a support and housing for the springs. One of the members of the casing con'iprises a plate 34 provided atitsforward end with a depending plate 35, thesame being notched as designated by 3G and the inner lower face of said platel is cut away to the sides of the notch so asl to form compound curved faces 37. nAtthe opposite end of plate 34 is a depending plate 3S and Aan outwardly extending plate 39, Vwhich latter serves as a stop and also as a housingr for the rear springs of the device.

Formed on the outer face of the'lower portions of the depending plate 38 is an outwardly projecting spring centering lug 4() and the outer portions of the lower end of plate 38 to the sides of this lug are cut away to form compound curved faces 41.

The opposite member of the casing is substantially like the member just described and comprises a plate 34, end plates 35a and 38, and an outwardly'projecting stop and spring housing plate 39. The outer portions of the end of plate-'35a are cut away at the corners to form compound curved faces 37a which are adapted to interlock with-the i corresponding curved faces 37f'on'p'late 36 and the central portonof said. plate 35* between the compound curved faces is left full as .designated by 42'iind which' part fits snugly y\'itliin the notch -36jwhen -the two parts of the casing are 'properly` assembled.

Formed integral withjflthe inner-face of plate 35a is a spring centering lug43; Plate 38a is provided-with a. centrally. notch 44 which receives-the central or'tlon,

o f the end 'ofiV plate 38. and tl1e i1er` poif" tion of plate 38i at the sides of said notch the corre-v 'anged Interposed betweenplat'es 35 and 355 and v the'front face of intermediate vplate 32,-avre compression springs 45, ,the inner one of which centers on lug 43 and interposed be-v tween plates 38-and 3.8 and rear/plate 31 Aof the yoke are compression springs 45?,the innerlone'of which centers on lug-LO.

In assembling the parts of my improved draft gear, springs 45 and one-half of the spring casing are. positioned in the yoke, afterl which springs 4 5, andthe other half o fit'lie spring casing are entered into the side of the yoke. The interlockin'g portions of the two parts of the casing areprovided with the cooperating Curved faces37 and 37 l and 41 and41al and ,whens'aid interlocking portions are brought together they perform lthe functions of wedges to slightly compress the draft springs duringthe assembling operation and after the parts have been proporly assembled, the" parts of the casing are held in assembled relation by the 'springs associated therewith. After the yoke,sp`ring casing and springsare assembled .they areentered vthrough th'e opening in the body-` bolster from the rear until the forwardend of the spring casing-engages lugs -15 and 16. The draw bar extension 17 is'now placed in position withl its rear end lbearing against the forward end of thespring casing and key '26 is now inserted through notches 14,

slots '33 in the forward ends of fthe legs of the yoke, and through the "Slots 2 6 inI the sides of' the extension, after 4washers 27 and cotter pins 28 are applied. Buing forcest-ransmitted from draw harto draw bar extension 17 are in turn transmitted di-V against plates 31 and 3'2 of v the yoke and thev lattei is held against rearward movement` by the key '26. 'I his'keybearsdirectly against the webs 13 of the transom,'and thus the stresses are transmitted directly to said tran-v som and to the underframe with which the.

latter is associated.

-T he slots -in the draw bar extension are siilistaiitially longer than the width' of key 26 sov as to permit free rearward movement of the extensioniwhen the same is subjected to hiiliiiig action andi the clearance between the front edge of the key and the. front ends of slots is the same as the clearance between projections 39 and 39a and the adjacent edges of plate Qtiof the yoke'so that under liiilting action, the .projections 39 and 39* contact .with the adjacent portions of plate 29 at the same time the front ends of. slots '25, come in Contact with front edge vof key if; andtliiis the rear portion of the extension co'iperates -with the projections 39 and BfP'to limit the rearward movement of the parts when the. sameare subjected to li'iifliiigaction..

ciiiteil.

It will beunderstood-that the cooperating parts iili icli.,.`ser\e as stopsto `limit the rearward in ovement 'of Vthe parts as just de-V scribed 'come .in Contact with each other only under extireiiie' hullingconditions and such vcontact takes-place before thespring's en- \\'lien the draw har extension is subjected to pulling` strains, the lyoke is pulled forwardly .hij reasori ofits attachment to the extension h \"f iieans of the key ZGand when siii-h action takes placethe plates 3l and 32.

hear againstv the lrear ends ofsprings 45 and 45, lin-'why coiiipi-essing the same against' the eiiil platos of the spring lioiisingarid the latter hohl against forward movement liv-.its (engagement with the flanges l5 and 1G on tho-transom. Thus the pulling strains a re Ati'aiismittcil -fflirertly ltothe transom and thi: iinilrrfraine. with which the same is assof 'As heretoforestated, the forward movemen't of the yoke is limited hy the engage-` 1mi-nt of-tlie edges of plates 3l againstjthe rear ciiiis of platesif) and 39a, and which engageinent takes place prior to the closing of the springs. v

vin sonieinstaiices. it may' he foiinddesir- 'jalile to make the `Yoke in t'wo parts and th'e spring casing in a single spart, and when siii-ii construction iscarried oiit. the plates 3l vand ""f are diiidedon transverse lines Fig. 7.)

spring easing' iii`assemhled relation.:

are provided with interengaging curved faces which are in everyway similar to the corresponding faces on the parts of the spring housing, heretofore'described. ,(See 'I0 -A transom draft gear of! my improved construction is eomparativelyy simplefean be cheaply manufactured, is'fi-'erycompaetiv particularly in transverse dimensions, can 75 lhe readily assembled or .taken apart, andv is very'efi'e'ctive intransmitting to the transom-w, and underframe all pulling and 'bufiing strains. i f ,It will be readily understood that minor 8O changes in the size, formand construction ofthe various parts of my improved draft gear, can be mad-e and sul'istitiited for those herein shown and descritied,f-withoutV departing from the spirit of myinvention, the scope of which is set forthintheappeiided claims.

I claim: 1. The combination with atransomhaving a draft gear opening, of a draw `bar,` a yoke connected tharetorand jpositioned'in saidopening, whiehlyjoke. is held against movementA in one direetiox1 1, .a two-part. spring casing coperatingv-wth 'thel yoke,- springs interposed betweenlt ceasing and 95 parts of the v \jo'l re, ii/hic spi ngs'-maitaiii the-parts of Ythe ls'pringfcasiiig inassei'ril'iled spring casing inl assembledfrelation,` and which spring casing is heldagainst movement in one direction.

5'). The. combination with a` transom provided with la draft gear ripening, of a draft gear occupying said opening and coinl'iris-v 115 Ving a drawl har, a yoke cr'innected thereto' and positioned in said opening'. which yoke is held again'st'jmovement iii-one direction, a two-part spring casing cooperating with the yoke and hearing against a pai-tof the 1.20

`ear so' that` it is held :igainst movement in one direction, and springs interposed hefY tween parts of theyoke and the spring casing, which springs maintainthe' partsof the 4. The combination with Aa transom proi'idedwith a draftgearvopening, o f a draft gear 'occupying said 'opening and comprising a draw har, aV vyoke connected' thereto and positioned in said opening, which yoke 130 is held against movement in one direction, a two-part Spring casing cooperating with the yoke and bearing against a part of the car so that it is held against movement. in one direction, springs interposed between parts of the yoke and the spring casing, which springs maintain the parts of the spring casing in assembledJ relation, and means on the spring casing for limiting the movement of the yoke relative thereto.

5. The. combination with a transom provided with a draft gear opening, of a draft gear occupying Said opening and Comprising a draw bar, a yoke, a member Connecting the draw bar and yoke, which member is adapted to engage the tran-som to hold the yoke against movement in one direction, a sectional spring casing associated with the yoke, and springs interposed between the casing and parts of the yoke, which springs maintain the sections of the spring casing in assembled relation.

6. The combination with a transom provided with a draft gear opening, of a draftgear occupying said opening and compris ing a draw bar, a yoke, a member Connect ing the drawA bar and yoke, whichl member is adapted to engage the transom to hold the yoke against movement in one direction, a sectional spring casing associated with the yoke, which spring casing is held against movementin one direction by 'the transom, and springs interposed between the casing and parts of the yoke, which springs maintain the sections of the spring casing in assembled relation.

l'i'. The Combination with a transom provided with a draft opening, of a. draw bar, draft gear elements including a yoke, and a Spring casing oceopying the opening in the transom and connected to. the draw,- bar, one of which elements is made in sec tions to facilitate the assembling of the draft gear, and springs interposerhbetween said elements, which springs maintain thev parts of the. sectional element in assembled relation.

8, In a draft gear of the'olass described,

the yoke being held against ino-vement inA the opposite' direction` 9. In a draft gear for railway cars. combination with a draw bar, if a te connected thereto. a tnonart ,-gn ing easing; which is brought into assembled relation to said yol-.e by a. movement of the parts of thei messes easing toward eaoh other and transversely with respect to said yoke, and springs inter posed between parte of said springr casing and yoke which springs maintain the parts of said spring easing in assembled relation.

i0. in a dr it gear for railway cars, the combination with a draw bar, of a yoke connected thereto, ay two-part spring ing which is brought into assembled relation to said yoke a movement of the parts of the casing tinvard each lother and transversely with respect to said yoke, springs in terposed between parts of said spring casing and yoke, which springs maintain the parts of the casingv in assembled relation, means for holding the yoke against movement in one direction, and means for holding the spring casing against movement in the other direction.

il. 'In a draft gear for railway Cars, a spring casing .formed in mating sections, portions of which interlock, and springs arranged in said casingr and holding the parts thereof in assembied relation.

l2. in a draft gear for railway cars, a Spring .asing' formed in mating sections, portions ot' which interlock, springs within said easing, which springs hold the parts of sait easing in assembled relation, and spring centering ings on said sections.

13. ln a draft for 'ailway cars, the combination with a member of the car nnderjframc, of a draw bar, a yoke connected thereto, Awhich yoke extends through an opening in the underframe member, a sertionai spring casing cooperating with the yoke, which springs maintain the parts of the casingy in assembled relation, springs interposed between Saidv easing and the yoke, means for holding the yoke against movement in one direction, means for holding the casing against moi-ement in the other direction, and means for limiting the moven ment or the yoke and Casing toward each other.

ifi. in a drift fear for railway cars, the combination with a draw bar, of a yoke oonnected thereto, a rtwo-part spring casing which .is brought into assembled relation to salid yoke by a movement of the parts of the. easing toward each other and transversely Witi.` respect to said yoke, the parts of the spring casing being provided with interengaging `parts, and springs interposedv between the spring casing and yoke, which springs maintain the parts of the Casing in assembled reiation. f n a draft gear for raiiway cars, a draw-bar, a yoke connected thereto, which yoke is prfwided with a pair of spring seats, a snif; casing cooperating wlth saidV- yoke and with the draw-bar, which casing is provided with a pair of spring seats oppositely arranged with respect to .the springseats on the yoke, and springs bearingA on the corre- 139 sponding pairs of Spring Six-ats Said yoke and sprlng casing beingr held in assembled relation by said springs.

16. In a draft gear for railway cars, :i draw-har, a yoke connected thereto and whioh coporute to form spring seats, and said parts havingr interlocking portions 15 which 2m) held in engagement with each othr by tno pressure of the springs on said Spring Seats.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, 2o this 10th day of February, 1915.

CHARLES T. YESTLAKIL Witnesses:

HM, (i. BELLVILLE, H'. MYLRS. 

